18/08/2024 East West Jaunt stage 3

As we were on our way from RSPB Old Moor(stage 1 - see thread) to RSPB St Aidans (Stage 2 - see thread) we got news of the Hudsonian Godwit's return to Burton Wetlands. Having successfully connected with the Caspian Tern, we returned to Greater Manchester for a change of driver and headed further west. Luckily for us, the traffic hold up on the M56 was on the eastbound lane so we were fairly quickly at the reserve and enjoying our second Mega of the day, albeit against the light. Having got "eyes on" from the visitor centre we relocated to a slightly better viewing spot to have a better look. Again, definitely more of a one bird visit, but Mike A and I did test our lucky streak by going to look for the little group of Redstarts reported from the area around the railway bridge. It had run out Still, a good day out with Lifers for two of us, year ticks for all of us, reasonable weather and a good day's birding. Final total of 52 species seen and 3 - Raven, Reed Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker- heard only.

Many thanks to Mike and John for the shared driving. A Grand Day Out.

Hudsonian Godwit still present early afternoon on Centenary Pool and from the Border Hide. Found yesterday evening but flew out to the estuary, although refound this morning as indicated. Still in part breeding plumage but in usual moult for this time of year. Associating with the Godwit flock.

Burton Mere never fails as usual, with the first Reed Warbler of the year. Other highlights were 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 1 male Pintail and a pair of Wigeon. 48 species in total.

Burton Marsh was even better with 3 Cattle Egrets, 1 Great White Egret, 6 Wheatears, 3 Swallows, also 1 Greenshank and 2 Goosanders on the flooded marsh. Also a male Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels and the first Whitethroat of the year.

68 species in total for both sites.

Four hour visit this morning from 10.30 am. Weather dull with some rain, light winds, 6-11*c. Amongst others :-

Pink-footed Goose (16 over)
Barnacle Goose (4)
Egyptian Goose (2)
Shelduck (5)
Shoveler (11)
Gadwall (18)
Wigeon (c.75)
Teal (c.45)
Tufted Duck (12)
Little Grebe (1)
Water Rail (2)
Avocet (46)
Oystercatcher (1)
Golden Plover (c.125)
Lapwing (c.150)
Bar-tailed Godwit (5)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.175)
Dunlin (5)
Little Egret (3)
Great Egret (2)
Marsh Harrier (2)
Kestrel (1)
Cettis Warbler (3)

Species seen - 49

A quick walk down by Nets Cafe/Decca Pools, overlooking Burton Marsh, added a pair of Goosander, at least two more Great Egret, several Little Egret and well over a hundred distant Pink-footed Goose. Then the rain started.

Highlights of today's High Peak RSPB group trip from 09:00-14:00

Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 7 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, 10 Ruff, 12 Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Marsh Harrier, 5 Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Knot, 8 Golden Plover, 3 Egyptian Goose, 40 Pink Footed Goose, 100's of Black Tailed Godwit, Green Woodpecker, 10 Snipe, Raven, 5 Pintail.

the Black-winged stilt was present again today but highly mobile around the reserve

Gull-billed Tern was present at border hide yesterday but its appearances were intermittent

Sunday 19/03/023

Following on from the repeat visit toNorth Wales, we called in here to follow the pattern of last month's trip. No Lesser Whitefronted goose this time, all the Pinkfooted geese very distant on Burton Marsh and we failed to find any Spotted Redshank. First summer migrant in the shape of at least one Chiffchaff, a group of 10 Knot among one of the flocks of Black Tailed Godwits, a posse of 32 Grey Herons in one of the reed beds, plenty of calling Cetti's Warblers heard, 10 Pintail (8 drakes and 2 ducks) from the screen hide and at least 4 Great Egrets around the reserve, including "Gary" on his usual pool.

Mike Chorley wrote:

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Called in here on the way home from North Wales, initially to see the Spotted Redshanks reported during the afternoon, only to discover that a Lesser White Front had been found among the large flock of Pinkfeet south of the mere. The bird was distant, at the back of the main flock, but showed well, and appeared to have no avicultural rings or feather damage, but, as people were saying, "who knows". Obviously smaller and darker, but the yellow orbital ring wasn't noticed by anyone while we were there.

---

Online picture received from Mr. Rayner showing that the bird does in fact have an orbital ring. Don't have a credit for it so not posted here. I'm sure it, and others, can be found fairly easily on line.

Highlights from an afternoon visit today:

Main reserve:
1 Spotted Crake - juvenile - occasionally showing along the reedy edge from the Reception hide. Didnt see the adult.
1 Wood Sandpiper - juvenile
3 Green Sandpiper
5 Little Ringed Plover - all juveniles
Quite a few Ruff, Snipe & Black-tailed Godwit
1 Kingfisher
1 Great White Egret
1 Cettis Warbler heard
Large numbers of eclipse Teal
Smaller numbers of eclipse Gadwall and Wigeon

Burton Point:
1 Redstart - juvenile male
2 Green Woodpecker - adult and juvenile
A large roving mixed feeding flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits, numerous Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 1 Garden Warbler
1 Swift with a flock of Swallows and House Martins

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 18th of August 2022 09:20:14 PM

Morning visit:

Highlights:

1 1st winter Little Gull
2 Garganey - pair
5 Spotted Redshank
c8 Bar-tailed Godwit
small flock of Knot - one developing summer plumage
1 Marsh Harrier
3 Cettis Warblers seen - more heard
1 Water Rail heard
Lots of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits
A few Pink-footed Geese still around - more on the salt marshes
3 Little Egret
2 Swallow
2 Sand Martin

Missed a flyover Osprey by 10 mins!

A couple of hours on the reserve this afternoon

Long tailed duck and Garganey both visible from the Bridge screen
Marsh Harriers in display flight
3 x Cattle Egret on Border Pool
Chiffchaff in abundance
Pair of Egyptian Geese with c. 8-10 young
Plenty of Avocet in a number of locations around the reserve

Another visit yesterday afternoon, four hours or so. Pretty much as per my visit on the 11th, with the addition of the female Long-tailed Duck on Bridge Pool and a female Merlin that sped, right to left, about five yards in front of the Marsh Covert Hide.

11.00-15.00

1 Spotted Redshank (On scrape in front of reception at 15.00, many thanks to the birders who initially found this bird).

1m Marsh Harrier (Seen with prey he was plucking while it was still alive and fighting, although I could not determine species of the victim).

4 Ruddy Shelducks, 1m+1f Buzzards (Soaring over the site together, very noticeable difference in size),

1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Stonechats and 4 Ravens (1 highly vocal).

A noticeable drop in the numbers of waterfowl, especially on the pool/scrape in front of Reception.

The sad remains of at least 10 geese were seen alongside the the pools, a pair of Carrion Crows were tucking into 1 corpse,

whilst a Magpie was dining on another.

Just when it was starting to look bleak for geese however, there was a huge and deafening influx of Canadas and Greylags.

A skein of 18 Pink footed Geese also arrived to graze on the marsh.

Waterfowl numbers appeared less depleted in front of the IMF hide however with Shoveler and Coots in noticeably healthy numbers,

the Welsh pool too held pleasing numbers of fowl, especially Wigeon and feral geese.

3 Great White Egrets were seen together on the saltmarsh, where a large flock of Lapwings rested and seemed quite relaxed, a sure

sign that there were no raptors on the prowl thereabouts.

Saturday 8th January

It was a pleasure to be out with the Stockport Birdwatching Society for the first time in ages, for the traditional run over to the Wirral and Burton Mere to begin the year's set of outdoor meetings.

Having started the day further up the peninsula, we arrived at Burton Mere around 13.30 with the weather having largely brightened up and a brilliant reserve full of birds to look at. There were lots of ducks including Pintail, Gadwall, Wigeon and Shoveler along with loads of Teal, large numbers of Pink-footed Geese moving around, but my highlight on the reserve was a superb ringtail Hen Harrier cruising past the new Border Hide. I hadn't seen the hide before personally, and it was pretty cool, spacious and definitely a good thing to have opened up some views of the areas by the railway line down there. It was good to see things like Siskin and Cetti's Warbler down around the boardwalk as well as plenty of Fieldfares moving around vocally.

Overall it was a cracking day and hopefully the first of many good trips in 2022. We managed a total of 81 species for the day which did not look on the cards as we got drenched at Wallasey! Amazingly nobody recorded Meadow Pipit on the day and Mute Swan was only seen from the coach on the way home; we were a bit stunned that neither species was seen from a day's birding on the Dee Estuary in January...

See https://stockportbirders.blogspot.com/ for more information on upcoming trips and indoor meetings; February's outdoor meeting is scheduled for Slimbridge WWT, an exciting prospect indeed.

Pool/Area in front of Reception

1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Black tailed Godwit, 6 Redshanks and 1f Marsh Harrier.

Viewed from Inner marsh Farm hide

2 Pintail (Border Pool), 1 Stonechat and 1 Egyptian Goose (With a missing left foot).

Large numbers of Pink Footed, Canada and Greylag Geese were on the saltmarsh below the Hill Fort.

A female Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and a least 6 highly vocal Ravens were also seen on the saltmarsh.

Saltmarsh area alongside Station Road

2 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits and 1 Buzzard. A single Fieldfare was feasting on haws with a small group of Blackbirds.

Quick scoot over to Burton Mere RSPB this evening to see the Wilson's Phalarope. 

Not as easy as expected with a no show on arrival at 5pm with people saying it had gone over towards the outer marsh beyond Burton Point. However after 5 minutes in Border hide it flew in and fed obligingly in front of the sizeable crowd.

Image attached. 

A further 10 minutes all waders were spooked by a Peregrine and off they went not to return. 

2 Ruff, 20 Lapwing, 5 Black Tailed Godwit, 4 Cettis Warbler were also present.

 

The Wilsons Phalarope was still present at around 14.45 hrs, on the Reception Pool, viewed from the Bunker Hide. Good scope views although, whilst I was there, it moved further away after being spooked. Since then, it would appear to have flown to the Border Pool from where it is currently being reported.

Highlights of today's High Peak RSPB group trip from 9-1

Cattle Egret, 5 Great White Egret, 2 Water Rail, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Cettis Warbler, 6 Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Egyptian Goose, 3 Ruff, Dunlin, 20+Common Snipe, 8 Little Egret, 2 Raven, 15 Black Tailed Godwit, Barnacle Goose, Kingfisher, 3 Goldcrest, Treecreeper. 

When the Cheshire App bleeped today with news from Burton Mere Wetlands I was baking. So I leisurely finished the Elderflower and Lemon Drizzle Pudding, made lunch and then got myself ready to head out!!

On arrival the car park was less busy than I expected and the first person I spoke too had negative news. However, I'm not sure that she was the best person to ask as when I walked up to ask warden Meghan at the Visitor Centre she confirmed that the rarity had been present constantly and was still there right in front of the reception bulding!! As masks were requested and mine was in the car I viewed from outside the building and watch a beautifully brick-red plumaged Long-billed Dowitcher feeding in amongst Black-tailed Godwits on the main lagoon. The bird showed really well, albeit I was looking directly into the sun so photographs weren't really possible other than sihouettes! Also on the same reception lagoon was a Spotted Redshank, again showing well.

I left around 4pm when both birds were still present and, the dowitcher especially, will be looked for first thing tomorrow morning.

Another mini visit to Burton Mere Wetlands was made today when news broke of a re-find there. On arrival I went to the Bunker Hide where the bird had been seen from and there was no sign of it. I joined a couple of folk in there (it's 4 people only and masks to be worn by the way!) and we started searching. Over 1hr 40mins had gone by when I rediscovered the bird, a Glossy Ibis, out beyond the juncus on the wet grassland. I immediately shouted it out to all and the news was put out which led to many more folk arriving. I got everyone who came onto the bird and then left the hide to allow others in. On arrival at the Reception area I was asked where I'd found it and as I pointed out the directions I found it again from there!! Scopes were produced and all the staff and volunteers got on it as well as folk just arriving. I had to leave but I think it showed for the rest of the day. This was my 200th species for the UK in 2021 and sort of self found (or self re-found!!) and a rarity to boot. A distant cropped digiscoped shot attached. Not a bad mornings birding, very enjoyable indeed!

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 25th of May 2021 10:04:01 PM

12:20-14:40

Hobby through, 2 Yellow Wagtail, drake Gargany, 3 Spotted Redshank in stunning summer plumage, Green Woodpecker, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 30+Avocet, 2 Wheatear, Stonechat, Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Cettis Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 8 House Martin, 30 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, Marsh Harrier, 18 Lapwing, 100+ Black Tailed Godwit, Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff and a possible Cattle Egret flying near Little Egret colony.

Of note today Avocet, Spotted Redshank, drake Garganey, Common Whitethroat and Reed Warbler

News broke this morning of a 'good bird' at Burton Mere Wetlands and so with a morning to spare I headed that way.

On arrival I was informed that the bird in question had flown c.20mins before I had arrived, drat!! Given the direction in which it had flown I set out to try and find it and was greeted with the news from 2 returning birders that it had been seen from Marsh Covert Hide. On arrival there only 1 occupant (great for social distancing!) but no sign of the bird for at least 20mins again! So next I headed off along the boardwalk and up to the viewpoint below the bird crop field. As I scanned with bins a largish white bird was seen on a distant spit on one of the lagoons. I rapidly got my scope set up and onto it and as I had suspected I had re-found the 1w Glaucous Gull that had first been seen on the Visitor Centre Lagoon earlier. No other birders had braved the cold, wet conditions to venture this far so I went in search of someone to tell them that it was here! I passed the news on and my attention turned to the covert area just past the viewpoint. After giving it a really careful scan with bins I eventually found a Woodcock hunkered down amongst the dense cover. Again I managed to get a few birders onto the bird which was now starting to move ever so slightly. In fact later when I took more birders back it had walked off to hunker down somewhere even more obscured. Having another check on the gull for new arrivals I discovered that that had gone too but only 5mins later it was spotted flying in from the Shotwick Lakes direction and it landed on the pool in front of where I had originally found it. I rattled off a few record digiscoped shots, but the bird was a long, long way off. Back at the Visitor Centre a Little Stint was on the lagoon and a report later had 15 Cattle Egrets from the track to Bunker Hide. But I had to leave as I only had the morning spare, but what a productive morning